Audiphone



No. 613,606. Patented Nov. l, |898. A. ROSS.

AUDIPHUNE.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1897.)l

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER ROSS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

AUDIPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,606, dated November1, 1898.

Application filed December 18, 1897. Serial No. 662,427. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Ross, a resident of Rochester, in thecounty of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Audiphones and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same.

The invention relates to audiphones, and has for its object to increasetheir acoustic sensitiveness and efficiency.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described andpointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis Fig. 2 is a plan of a ring andits contained diaphragm. Fig. 3 is a plan of another diaphragm on anenlarged scale, diaphragm-supporting wires being shown insection. Figs.4. and 5 are plans of reticulated diaphragms. Fig. 6 is an enlargedcentral longitudinal section of the main diaphragms and their supportingdevice. Fig. 7 shows a modification.

Numeral l denotes the trumpet shaped body, preferably curved, as shown.

2 indicates the receiving end, and 3 the earentering end of the saidbody.

4 and 5 denote reticulated screens, preferably made of very fine silverwire. These guard the interior of the instrument and prevent theentrance of insects or other objects that might obstruct or injure theinterior mechanism or that might enter the ear when the audiphone is inuse. The screens are situated at each side of the interior mechanism toprevent insects from hiding or nesting therein. Single screens have beenheretofore used to prevent entrance of insects to the ear from theexterior of the trumpet-shaped body; but such device entirely fails ofthe importantfunction secured by a plurality of screens placed as shown,whereby the secret lodgment of insects in the body and in a situation toenter the ear when the instrument is in use is obviated. The distance ofthe diaphragm 4 from the adjacent exterior opening is so small that theadjacent interior can be inspected and insects dislodged, if necessary,which, however, is not true of the more remote interior.

6 denotes a compound ring made of sepa- Y rate rings of dierentmetals-as, for example, zinc 6 and copper 6".

7 is a diaphragm made, preferably, of finelytempered steel and very thinor about the thickness of tissue-paper. Its edges are scalloped, as atS, and it is supported within the ring 6 by the fingers or points 9,which separate the scallops.

l0 indicate wires which connect the diaphragm 7 with a smaller diaphragml1, also made very thin and ot' tempered steel. These wires, which arepreferably magnetic, are nicked at 12 to receive the edge of thediaphragm 1l and support the same. Beyond said latter diaphragm, towardthe ear-enterL ing end of the instrument, the wires lO are bentoutwardly into contact with the wall of the trumpet, as shown. Thesewires, which preferably are magnets, are connected mediately to thering, which resembles a voltaic pile and acts to maintain the magnetismof the ring, by which means the sensitiveness of the device isincreased. Further, the material of which the diaphragm is composed,made thin, as stated, is particularly adapted to transmit sound-Waves.The diaphragms being supported at their edges, one by and between theWires and the other by means of circumferential fingers 9, are renderedspeL cially sensitive to air or sound waves by said manner of support.

The openings in diaphragm 7 around its pe riphery permit air or soundWaves to freely enter. These are concentrated by the inclosing Wall uponthe small diaphragm, which thereby and by reaction from diaphragm 7 isvibrated in unison with said latter diaphragm, which first receives theimpulses entering the mouth of the instrument. The vibrations aretransmitted from diaphragm ll to the in terior of the ear. Thisdiaphragm is preferably placed Witliin half an inch of the earenteringend and Will in use be situated Within the circumference of the outerear.

The screens are made of non-corrodible resonant metal and of iine meshto exclude foreign objects. Such screens do not seriously interfere withthe acoustic properties of the instrument.

Preferred materials have been mentioned herein, but others are notexcluded, neither IOO are mere mechanical ychanges Which do notsubstantially alter the construction and operation.

I-Iaving described my invention, What I claim is 1. In an audiphone, thecombination of the trumpet-shaped body, devices for multiplying sound,and a plurality of screens located Wholly Within the trumpet-shaped bodyintermediate its ends, one ot the screens being situated on one side thesound-multiplying devices near the small or ear end of the body and theother screen situated adjacent said devices on the opposite side thereofand remote from the trumpetmouth, substantially `as described.

2. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet-shaped body, aplurality of vibratory diaphragme of less diameter than the adjacentparts of the tru mpet-body and having separate points in theirperipheries connected to the trumpet-body the intermediate parts of theperiphery being disconnected therefrom, substantially as described.

3. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet-shaped body, aplurality of vibratory diaphragms of less diameter than the adjacentparts of the trumpet-body and having separate points in theirperipheries connected to the trumpet-body, the intermediate parts of theperiphery being disconnected therefrom, and Wires connecting` thediaphragms, substantially as described.

4. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet-shaped body, a ringcomposed of alternate rings of diiterent metals, a vibratory diaphragmconnected to said ring, a second diaphragm and metallic Wires connectingthe diaphragms, substantially as described.

5. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet, a ring composed ofalternate rings of different metal, a vibratory diaphragm connected tosaid ring, a second diaphragm, and means for connecting the diaphragms,said means consisting of Wires attached at or near their peripheries andtouching the body at their ends, substantially as described.

6. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet, a diaphragm and Wiressupported Within the trumpet, said diaphragm being supported by saidWires engagingits periphery, substantially as described.

7. In an audiphone, the combination of a trumpet, a ring composed ofdifferent metals arranged alternately, a scalloped diaphragm having iingers between its scallops supported by the ring, Wires extending fromthe fingers to a remote part of the trumpet-Wall, and a diaphragm ofless diameter than the adjacent part of the trumpet having its edgesupported by the Wires, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciication in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses. ALEXANDER ROSS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. A. WIDENER, N. M. P. TUCKER.

